RTÉ’s Commercial Director Geraldine O’Leary has slammed “erroneous” reports about her and her husband amid the ongoing payments controversy.
On Wednesday, the RTÉ Board and executives arrived at Leinster House once again, this time to face questioning from the Oireachtas Media Committee – after it was revealed that Ryan Tubridy’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs. O’Leary revealed the articles and Twitter posts she has read about herself and her husband in recent weeks have “crossed a line” and had a huge impact on her mental health and wellbeing.
“My husband and I paid for our own hotel in Chicago,” she added.
The Chicago trip Mrs. O’Leary is referring was in 2016, when she and her husband were photographed outside Soldier Field ahead of an international friendly rugby match between Ireland and New Zealand.
Last week, Mrs. O’Leary revealed clients were booked to fly out to major sporting events through RTÉ’s now infamous barter account.
She also said clients were booked to fly to the Rugby World Cup, but said she can’t name who they are without their permission.
According to Virgin Media’s Richard Chambers, ten years of IRFU season tickets would have cost €138,000.
Sunday Independent reporter Mark Tighe says €111k was spent on Rugby World Cup tickets for clients in 2019, and €26k was spent on 2019 Champions League final tickets.
